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Comments attributed to Chinese President Xi Jinping during meetings with President Donald Trump suggest Beijing may be reassessing the long-term costs of Russia’s war in Ukraine as Moscow faces mounting military and economic strain.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Donald Trump during talks in Beijing last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin could ultimately come to regret launching the war in Ukraine, according to a report published by the Financial Times.
The reported remarks emerged after extensive discussions between Trump and Xi covering the Ukraine war, international institutions and escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Russia and China.
According to the Financial Times, Xi suggested that Russia’s 2022 invasion may prove to be a major long-term strategic error for Moscow — a notable departure from Beijing’s usual public positioning on the conflict.
China has largely avoided direct criticism of Putin since the war began and has maintained close diplomatic and economic ties with Russia under what both governments previously described as a “no-limits” partnership announced shortly before the invasion.
The comments attributed to Xi surfaced only days before Putin’s scheduled arrival in China for another summit with the Chinese leader, underscoring the continued importance of Moscow-Beijing coordination despite potential concerns inside China regarding the trajectory of the war.
Neither Washington nor Beijing publicly confirmed the report.
The White House declined to comment, while the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for clarification.
The Financial Times also reported that Trump raised the possibility of cooperation among the United States, China and Russia in opposition to the International Criminal Court, an institution that Trump and many of his political allies have repeatedly criticized.
The Trump administration has accused the ICC of political bias and overreach, particularly after previous investigations involving American personnel and U.S. allies.
The reported exchange occurred as Ukraine continues expanding long-range drone operations deep inside Russian territory, increasing pressure on the Kremlin both militarily and economically.
Recent Ukrainian strikes have targeted oil refineries, fuel depots, logistics hubs and military-industrial facilities across Russia using increasingly sophisticated drone campaigns.
Analysts cited by The Economist said the conflict may be approaching an “inflection point” as Russian forces experience territorial setbacks after extended periods of incremental battlefield gains.
Ukraine’s military has increasingly relied on drone warfare to offset Russia’s manpower and artillery advantages.
According to a Politico report, Ukrainian forces launched more than 1,300 drones over a single weekend in one of the largest aerial strike operations of the war.
The attacks reportedly disrupted civilian air traffic, struck infrastructure near Moscow and exposed weaknesses in Russian air defense systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operations demonstrated that Russia is no longer capable of fully protecting its capital from retaliatory strikes.
The expanding drone campaign has also increased concerns over economic pressure inside Russia as infrastructure damage, declining energy revenues and prolonged military spending strain the country’s economy.
Russia’s economy reportedly contracted during the first quarter of 2026, while reduced energy income has weakened one of Moscow’s primary sources of wartime financing.
Some defense analysts now believe the Kremlin could face growing domestic pressure if the war continues without a decisive military breakthrough.
Although Russian officials have publicly minimized the impact of Ukraine’s deep-strike attacks, some pro-Russian commentators have acknowledged mounting stress on Moscow’s air defense network and internal security systems.
Xi’s reported warning to Trump comes at a sensitive moment for China as Beijing attempts to preserve its strategic relationship with Moscow while also avoiding deeper economic and diplomatic fallout tied to the prolonged conflict.
The discussions also highlight the increasingly interconnected nature of great-power competition involving the United States, Russia and China, particularly as the Ukraine war reshapes global trade, military alliances and energy markets.
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